William Shakespeare, in a play titled Twelfth Night, says some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
These are exact words to describe the newly appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, Mr Thompson Oludare Sunday for being audacious, virile, and diligent in achieving greatness in life
The new NDIC boss is a seasoned and versatile financial expert with over 30 years of regulatory and supervisory experience.
Having cut his teeth with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 1989, he went ahead to acquire high-end knowledge in Central Banking, spending 24 unbroken years in banking supervision.
While his vast experience is in the regulation and supervision of licensed institutions, his deep expertise spans corporate governance, risk management, and compliance as a veritable tool for ensuring the safety and soundness of institutions. He is a highly analytical and cross functional team worker with a strong interest in building individual and institutional capacity for transformation and excellence.
Thompson’s skills and experience were horned by several key responsibilities and special assignments he handled for the apex Bank.
He was the Chairman of the Bank-wide Committee for the Review/Drafting of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, LFN 2004, leading to the enactment of BOFIA 2020; member of the Expert Committee for the Harmonisation of Risk-Based Supervision Frameworks for the West Africa Monetary Zone, member West Africa Committee of Experts on Risk-Based Supervision; and member of the Review for the CBN Financial Stability Report.
His extensive experience is also underpinned by the various sensitive committees on which he served, including the CBN/NDIC Technical Committee on Problem Banks; Banking Sector Consolidation Committee 2004 – 2005; and Banking Sector Reform – 2009.
He also participated in/anchored the development of major policy frameworks such as the Guidelines for Consolidation in the Banking Industry and Code of Corporate Governance and Framework for the Regulation and Supervision of Domestic Systemically Important Banks.
Thompson represented the Central Bank of Nigeria as Independent External Examiner in Heritage Bank from 1st February 2023 to 31st January 2024, serving on the Board and as part of the Executive Management Team.
The NDIC boss is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and Doctoral Fellow, Institute of Professional Financial Managers.
The sterling regulatory and supervisory accomplishments that adorned Thompson’s career path did not pass without due recognition by the hierarchy of the CBN.
He was the Best Staff of Banking Supervision Department for 2001; and recipient of Letter of Commendation from the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2009 for Outstanding Performance, High Sense of Responsibility and Moral Uprightness in Executing Assignments during the Banking Sector Reforms Programme, amongst others.
He retired from the Central Bank of Nigeria as a director in November 2021.
Thompson’s academic pathway was as decorated as his career trajectory as he graduated with First Class Honours in Business Administration (Finance) from the reputable Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1985.
He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the same institution, Zaria, in 1988 before capping it with a Doctorate Degree in Management from the St. Clements University in 2009.
His outstanding academic prowess earned him the Federal Government of Nigeria Merit Award for Academic Excellence, 1985; and Prize for Best Graduating Student of Business Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, also in 1985.
Thompson was appointed the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) on 25th July 2025 following his nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his confirmation by the Senate.